“If I pick up a single leaf and go into the city, I move the whole mountain.” ~ Yuan wu (1063-1135)
Category: zen
Single leaf
The three poisons
The ignorant mind, with its infinite afflictions, passions and evils, is rooted in the three poisons: greed, anger, and delusion. These three poisoned states of mind themselves include countless evils, like trees that have a single trunk but countless branches and leaves. Yet each poison produces so many more millions of evils that the example […]
Consider the world light
Consider the world light, And the spirit is not burdened; Consider the myriad things slight, And the mind is not confused. Consider life and death equal, And the intellect is not afraid; Consider change as sameness, And clarity is not obscured. ~ Lao-tzu
True nature is not lost
Your true nature is not lost in moments of delusion, nor is it gained at the moment of enlightenment. It was never born and can never die. It shines through the whole universe, filling emptiness, one with emptiness. It is without time or space, and has no passions, no people, and no buddhas; it contains […]
Deathless state
For those who are ready, the door To the deathless state is open. You that have ears, give up The conditions that bind you, And enter in. ~ Majijhima Nikaya
Closed out the old year
Closed out the old year And held a dream of spring behind Eyes shut, till now This morning I open them to see It’s really come into the world ~ Saigyo
Watch the moss thicken
Sitting before the silent, burning incense I watch the moss thicken on the stone bridge. Don’t ask me why. I’ve been out of step with the world since my youth. ~ Wonkam Chungji
The edge of the pond
Seeking the origin, I went to the edge of the pond And forgot to return, ~ Choeui Eusoon
It’s like riding a cow to return home
Finding a teacher to learn the truth Is nothing special It’s like riding a cow to return home. If you can stride freely atop A hundred foot pole Countless buddhas will only be Sparks in your eyes. ~ Buhyu Sunsoo (1543-1615)
Is there anything else to remember?
I only open my eyes for the spring wind And the autumn moon. ~ Hamhur Kiwha (1376-1433)